Suction operated windshield wiper motor



March 7, 1950 N. NORDENSTAM 2,499,671

SUCTION OPERATED WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR Filed March 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1950 N. NORDENSTAM SUCTION OPERATED WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1948 0J MW I. M; 1 1 1 n m X H i z fl w 5 :15 H w u 6 H Q & a u 9 1 1 W (A, .mv amflfinmmw H. 1 3 3 1 0 i 6 M a 1 iiiiiiiiiitt. m r 8 m F O 111ml 5 w y 3 a i/ a u a i a 3Q. n

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION OPERATED WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR Norris Nordenstam, Riverside, Calif.

Application March 20, 1948,.Serial No. 16,080

6 Claims. 1.

The present invention relates to. improved suction operated motors-of the type useful as windshield wiper motors which. are operated. in accordance with suction pressures in. manifolds of. internal combustion engines.

An. object. of the present invention is to provide. an improved simplified. valve structure in fluid motors of the type indicated. above which.

are positive in action and easy tov manufacture and assemble in: accordance with. present day mass production methods.

The features of. the present invention which are. believed to be. novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention i-tself,. both as to its. organization and. manner of operation, together. withv further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the. following description taken. in connection with. the. accompanying drawings inwhich-z Figure 1 is. a view in elevation of a. suction operated. motor embodying the present invention with. a portion of thevane casingv broken away.

Figures 2- and 3 show details of the motor shown in Figure 1 and are views taken. respectively on the: lines 22 of Figure 3 and on the lines 33 of. Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to. the

view shown in Figure 2' of three dii'lerent modified structures embodying the present invention.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show the structure of another modified motor embodying the present in.-- vention, Figures '7 and 8 being sectionalviews taken respectively on thelines 1-1 and 8---8 of Figure 9- and Figure 9 is aview taken substantially on the line 9-9 of. Figure 8-.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show a. further modified suctionv operated motor embodying the present sure below atmospheric, such: as thatiexisti-ng" in.

the manifold of an. internal combustion engine; Such vacuum or. subatmospheric: pressure is created. in the manifold of. the. internal. combustion. engine as is well known. and. such manifold is connected tothe vacuum port Hi to thereby always maintain the.- chamber t5 at subatmospheric. pressure; This chamber [5 maybe. placed. in communication with either one; but not both, of. the chambers l6 and H which. are

respectively in communicationlwith. oppositesides:

of the vane member H. I For this purpose. port The. vane M: is operated by 2 or channel 1-8 places the right hand side of the vane I.|I in Figure. lin communication. with the chamber i6: and the port or channel. l9 places the left hand side: of. vane. It in. communication with the chamber I]. The pivoted check valve member 28 serves alternately to place the chamber H in communication with the chamber [6 or i! as the case may be and, as shown in Figure 2', this valve member 20 closesthe passage between chambers l5 and It. The valve member 28 is held in. position. shown therein by atmospheric pressure which exists-in such chamber 86 since it is. in communication with. the bottom chamber 22 through. the tubular valve member 24, the chamber 22 being normally closed by the. releasable. cover member 25 which has a vent hole 26 therein to place the. chamber 22 at allv times at atmospheric pressure.

Thus, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and. 3,v air at. atmospheric pressureenters the vent hole 26,. into the chamber 22, flows through. the valve member 24 into the chamber It to close the valve 20, and to cause a force to be exerted on the right hand side of. the vane H in Figure l to move. the: vane in the direction indicated. by the arrow 28-; at the same time, the air on the left hand side of the vane is being removed through. the channel It which is in communication with. the chamber I1 and. the chamber i5 which isin communication with the port I l.

Such motion. of the vane II in Figure 1 continues until, at the extremity of its stroke, the lever member 31! mounted on the shaft l2 causes the valve port to close in a manner described now.

The tubular valve member 24 may be sealed by the. valve member 32 which pivots freely on the: shaft 1-2, it being noted that this valve mem-- ber 32 is. pivoted at a point intermediate its ends so as to cooperate with the two identical tubular valve members. 24 and 33 so that when the tubular valve member 24: is opened, the other tubular valve member 33 is closed and vice versa.

This valve member 32 in Figure 2 is held. firmly in. either one of its two positions by a snap action over. center mechanism. comprising a pressure plate: member 35 which is pivotally mounted on the. shaft 2 and which is. maintained in spring biased: position against. the valve member 32 by the'overcenter torque spring 36 having one.- of. its ends: anchored on the post 31 on thevalve casing l0 and. the other'one of its ends connected to an intermediate portion of. said pressure; plate 35..

Itv is noted that this. pressure platemember 35.. is in the path of movement of the lever member 30/ and is engaged thereby near the end. of the stroke of the vane member I l tocause such.preS-' sure plate member 35 to. move to a position where-- in the torque-spring 36 attached. thereto movesto overcenter position in. which case. the pressure plateniember 35 continues to-moveunder the influence of'spring tt to move the-valvemember 32 3 in Figure 2 to its other position with a snap action.

When, as indicated above, such valve member 32 is moved to its opposite position than that shown in Figure 2, the chamber I1 is placed in communication with the chamber 22 through the valve member 33 to cause the check valve member 26 to move to its opposite position and to cause a force to be exerted on the left hand side of the vane member I I to drive it to the right in Figure 1 at which time simultaneously air on the right hand side of the vane member II is being removed through channel I8 with chamber l5, which is in communication with the suction port I5.

In the modified structure shown in Figures 4, and 6, corresponding parts have identical reference numerals. In Figure 4, the valve arrangement is similar to that shown in Figure 2 but for the fact that instead of the valve members 24, 33 comprising tubular sleeve members, they, in Figure 4, have as their counterpart, sleeves 24A, 33A disposed on the underside of the valve member 32. In Figure 5, the valve members 24, 33 and cooperating valve member 32 find as their counterpart a pivoted vane member 32A adapted to engage its seat 24B, 33B. This vane member 32A is pivotally mounted on the central vane shaft I2 and is engageable by the oppositely disposed abutment members 35A, 353 on the pressure plate 350 to press such vane member 32A against the corresponding valve seat 24B, 33B. In Figure 5, the chamber I6 is sealed off from the atmospheric pressure chamber 22 by the valve member 32A engaging its seat 24B and a subatmospheric pressure existing in such chamber I6, while at the same time, atmospheric pressure exists in the chamber [7.

In the modified structure shown in Figure 6, the vacuum port is represented at I4 in which case the bottom chamber 40 within which the overeenter spring 36 is disposed is always at subatmospheric pressure while the upper chamber 4I vented at 42 is always maintained at atmospheric pressure and in this case, the check valve member 44B is moved with a snap action by the spring 36 to alternately place the ports 44, 45 extending to opposite sides of the vane member II in communication either with atmospheric pressure or with the subatmospheric pressure existing in chamber 40. This check valve member 44B is pivotally mounted on the vane shaft I2 and is engageable by the oppositely disposed abutments 45A, 453 on the spring biased pressure plate member 45C to which is attached the spring 36 and which is engageable by the lever member 30, Fi ure 6, on the shaft I2 to move the spring 36 to overcenter positions.

In the arrangements shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9, the vane member IIA is of hollow wall construction and incorporates therein the valve structure 50 whose function is the same as the valve in Figure 2 comprising the elements 24, 32 and 33. The vacuum port I4 is in communication with the chamber I5 which is always at subatmospheric pressure, such chamber I5 being selectively disposed in communication with the chambers I6 and I! by the snap actuated valve member 55 which is operated in the precise manner as is the valve member 44B in Figure 6 and for that reason corresponding parts in Figures 6 and 7 have identical reference numerals. Referring to the construction of the vane I IA shown in Figures 8 and 9, it is noted that the chamber 60 defined by the hollow walls is in communication with the hollow portion 63 of shaft I2, such hollow portion 63 being vented to the atmosphere at 64 so that the internal chamber 60 of the vane I IA is always maintained at atmospheric pressure. When subatmospheric pressure or suction is exerted on either side of the vane member I IA, Figure 8, the relative high atmospheric pressure within chamber I6 causes the pivotally mounted valve member 56 to move either to the right or to the left as the case may be in Figure 3 to close the valve ports 66 or 61. This valve member 65 is pivotally mounted at 61A, Figure 8, on the cross member 68 within the vane I IA. In the operation of the motor shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, vacuum or subatmospheric pressure exists in the chamber I I in the channel I9 and on the right hand side of the valve member I IA. Existence of such subatmospheric pressure in chamber IT, in channel I9 and on the right hand side of the vane member I IA in Figure 8 causes the valve member 65 to close the port 66 in which case the atmospheric pressure exerted on the left hand side of the vane member I IA introduced through the port 62, Figure 8, causes the valve member I IA to move in the direction indicated by the arrow 10 in Figure 8 until near the end of its stroke at which time the valve member 55 is moved to its other position under the influence of spring 36 to place the chamber I6 in communication with the vacuum port I4. At this time there is a subatmospheric pressure on the left hand side of the vane IIA, atmospheric pressure on the right hand side of the vane and the vane moves in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow ID to the end of its stroke at which time again the valve member 55 is actuated to again cause movement of the vane stroke IIA. Thus, oscillator movement is imparted to shaft I2 upon which may be mounted a windshield wiper blade of conventional construction.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the corresponding check valve of Figure 8 is maintained in one of its two positions by spring detent means 80 and for that reason it is unnecessary that the corresponding valve member of Figure 7 be spring actuated. In other words, comparing the arrangements shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9 with the arrangement shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, there is a reversal of parts in the sense that the valve member 65 in Figure 11 is maintained by a spring 8| in one of its two positions and the valve member 83, Figures 10, 11 and 12, freely floats. Referring specifically to Figures 10, 11 and 12, the pivoted valve member 83 is identical to the valve member 20 in Figure 2 and serves to place the vacuum port I4 in alternate communication with the chambers I6 and II, the chambers I6 and I! being in communication with opposite sides of the vane member IIB through corresponding channels I8 and I9. The valve member 65 is provided with oppositely extending projections 65A, Figure 11, 65B arranged at the end of its stroke to engage the correspondin extensions 65, 86 on the casing III to thereby transfer th position of the valve member 65, the valve member 65 being maintained in position by the spring detent means 86 comprising the extension 80A and cooperating deflectable spring 8|. Thus, as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, vacuum introduced at port I4 causes the valve member 83 to move to the right as shown since atmospheric pressure from the hollow wall is transferred through the open valve up through channel I9 to such valve member 83 to thereby maintain it in the position shown in Figure 12. At the same time.

such atmospheric pressure presses against the right hand side of the vane MB in Figure 11 to move it to the left in the direction indicated by the arrow 99 and simultaneously the air on the left hand side of the vane l IB is removed through channel l8 which is in communication with the vacuum port M. Such movement continues in the direction indicated by the arrow 99 until the extension 65B engages the extension 98 in which case the valve member 65 is moved to open the port 61 and the spring detent means 80 is effected to maintain such valve member 85 in relative position with respect to vane member iiB. Thereafter, the direction of motion of the vane member HE is reversed since atmospheric pressure is exerted on the left hand sid of it to cause the valve member 83 to move to its other position wherein the vacuum port 14 is pressed in communication with the right hand side of the vane member MB in Figure 11 until th extension GEA engages the extension 85 in which case the valve member 65 is moved to its other position and the direction of movement of the vane is again reversed.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader as pects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a fiuid motor of the type described, a housing with a first chamber therein, a vacuum port leading to said chamber, said housing having a pair of chambers each on an opposite side of the first mentioned chamber, an oscillating vane pivotally mounted in said housing, a fiuid channel extending from the corresponding one of said pair of chambers to opposite sides of said vane, a pivoted check valve member in the first chamber arranged to selectively place said first chamber in communication with either one of said pair of chambers, and means responsive to movement of said vane arranged to vent either one of said pair of chambers to the atmosphere.

2. In a fiuid motor of the type described, a housing having a first chamber, said housing having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of said first chamber, valve means interposed between said first chamber and said pair of chambers arranged to place said first chamber in communication with only one of said pair of chambers at any particular time, valve means arranged to vent either one of said pair of chambers to the atmosphere at any one particular time, said first mentioned valve means being a pivotally mounted check valve member movable in response to the presence of atmospheric pressure in either one of said pair of chambers.

3, In a fluid motor of the type described, a housing having a first chamber, said housing having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of said first chamber, valve means interposed between said first chamber and said pair of chambers arranged to place said first chamber in communication with only one of said pair of chambers at any particular time, valve means arranged to vent either one of said pair of chambers to the atmosphere at any one particular time, a vane in said housing with opposite sides thereof in communication with corresponding ones of said pair of chambers, said first mentioned valve means being engaged and moved by a snap action mechanism actuated in accordance with movement of said vane.

4. In a fluid motor of the type described, a housing having a first chamber, said housing having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of said first chamber, valve means interposed between said first chamber and said pair of chambers arranged to place said first chamber in communication with only one of said pair of chambers at any particular time, valve means arranged to vent either one of said pair of chambers to the atmosphere at any one particular time, a movable vane within said housing having opposite sides thereof in communication with a corresponding one of said pair of chambers, the second mentioned valve means being engaged and moved by a snap action mechanism actuated in response to movement of said vane.

5, In a fluid motor of the type described, a housing having a first chamber, said housing having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of said first chamber, valve means interposed between said first chamber and said pair of chambers arranged to place said first chamber in communication with only one of said pair of chambers at any one particular time, valve means arranged to vent either one of said pair of chambers to the atmosphere at any one particular time, a movable vane within said housing having opposite sides thereof in communication with a corresponding one of said pair of chambers, said vane being of hollow wall construction vented to the atmosphere, and the second mentioned valve means being disposed within the hollow wall structure of the vane and arranged to selectively vent opposite sides of said vane to the atmosphere.

6. In a fluid motor of the type described, a housing having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of said first chamber, valve means interposed between said first chamber and said pair of chambers arranged to place said first chamber in communication with only one of said pair of chambers at any particular time, valve means arranged to vent either one of said pair of chambers to the atmosphere at any one particular time, a movable vane within said housing having opposite sides thereof in communication respectively with a corresponding one of said pair of chambers, said vane being of hollow wall construction vented to the atmosphere, the second mentioned valve means being disposed within the hollow walls of said vane to place opposite sides of said vane in communication with the atmosphere, extension means serving as motion limiting means interposed in the path of movement of said second valve means to change the position of said valve, and indexing means mounted on said vane arranged to index said second valve means to the position at which it is actuated by its engagement with said motion limiting means.

NORRIS NORDENSTAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 92,648 Root July 13, 1869 1,001,684 Rainalter Aug. 29, 1911 1,963,286 Ballert June 19, 1934 2,355,758 Stevens Aug. 15, 1944 

